b-b-baby got bed bugz

September 20, 2016

Hey guys! This week was so great! :) We got to hear from an apostle! We also got bed bugs! Hahaha.

The reason I didn't email yesterday was because when we were nightly planning Saturday night we saw a bug scurry across the floor. We thought it was a tick but we showed it to the elders & they said it was a bed bug...We took off our sheets & mattresses & they were EVERYWHERE. There were even blood stains on our sheets from where they had bit us (sorry if that's too much info haha.) There was a hive thing of them in one of our mattresses. So the elders came & wrapped up everything & took it all out to the landfill & the pest control man came. Sunday night we slept in a Motel 8 & last night we slept at Sister Wheeler's house on her couch. We took all of our laundry, bags, everything to a laundromat & were there all day yesterday cleaning & drying everything haha. Elder Wright brought us up 2 boxsprings & mattresses so the elders kept them for us while we finished cleaning out our entire apartment, car, & suitcases. It took a really long time but we pray pray pray they won't be coming back & that they are gone. Please pray the little buggers stay away! Haha. It's been an interesting experience to say the least.... but anyway... :) 

Saturday was amazing!!!!:) We got to hear from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the 12 apostles!!! :) We had a special conference with him, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the seventy, and Elder Calderwood of the area seventy! Holy cow, it was an amazing experience & I learned so much:) When Elder Oaks shook Elder Stolworthy's hand he said, "Stolworthy? Didn't I just shake a Sisters hand with that last name? I played football against a Stolworthy once."  

It was really cool because Elder Calderwood said he felt prompted to change his thoughts at the last minute. He talked about how in D&C 93 we read about how Christ learned precept by precept, line by line, grace by grace. We shouldn't get down on ourselves but we should do all we can to try to improve everyday. He said that by the time we step on the airplane we can know we were the best missionary we could have been. He said the same thing about when we stand before God after this life. It was a beautiful talk. 

Elder Robbins spoke about how Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel on the Christlike attributes is really the most important about who we will become after our mission. He said, "Repentance isn't the back-up plan. Repentance is the plan." He said that although missions are tough, they prepare us for everything we will face after we get home. He also spoke a lot about how we choose love & he gave some examples of that. He said it is a behavior & that the most important things in the kingdom of God aren't measured & can't be tracked. He also spoke a lot about marriage too haha & that the experiences & companions we have will help us if we choose to be like Christ:) 

Elder Oaks gave us some really good points:) He said...

• Don't measure your success as a missionary based on the exercise of other's agency.
• Convert people to the gospel not the church- & that includes yourself.
• Don't assume too much in your calling & teaching.
• Leaving commitments is the most important thing- yet neglected a lot by missionaries

Elder Oaks is really funny:) He talked about marriage too haha, and also about revelation & the importance of always recognizing it & acting upon it. He told us that when he looked into our eyes individually that he knew that we knew who we were as missionaries, which I thought was really neat. He even did a little Q&A at the end. My favorite quote from him was, "Keep on keepin' on!" & that's exactly what we need to do. Sister Olsen and I were given a very special opportunity to sing a musical number of Be Still My Soul right before he spoke. Before we sang Elder Oaks had us all stand up & stretch. Elder Robbins came up to the mic & said, "Elder Oaks is making a Y with his arms by the way, not a U." It was so funny:) 

Oh man- I'm just so grateful for the counsel from our inspired church leaders & for the preparation that proceeds revelation. I'm also grateful we got to go on exchanges with the martinsburg sisters this week! I got to stay in martinsburg with sister pickett this time:) We also had Chavandra, Jennifer, Selmera, Emmanuel, & Arianna at church this week which was awesome! I've never seen that many investigators at church my whole mission. Chavandra is on date for Oct. 22nd & loved church!! :) & Jennifer & her brother want to get baptized. After we left their house last week Jennifer's brother said, "I want to join that church." It has been a really great week of miracles:) 

So sorry for the long email...so much happened! I love you guys so much. I hope you have a wonderful week. I'm just so thankful to be a missionary. I know I say that every week but I truly am. It has changed my life forever. I love you guys. Remember that this gospel is here to astonish & change the world!:) Love you love you.

 Xo Sister Stolworthy